Brick-press.



No. 708,778. Patented Sept 9, I902. Y J. J. METERS.

BRICK PRESS.

(Application filed May 20, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2'SheetsSheet I R Q R? s Q N 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J OSEPH J. NIETERS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BRICK-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,778, dated September 9, 1902.

Application filed May 20, 1901. Serial No. 61,102. (No model.)

being had to theaccompanying drawings,-

forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improved brick-press. Fig. 2 is a front elevational view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, and Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a brick-press, the object being to construct a machine of the character described which will continuously press the clay into molded forms.

Another object is to produce a simple,cheap, and compact machine of the characterdescribed.

With these objects in View the invention consists in the arrangement, construction, and combination of the several parts, all as will hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Aindicates the side frames of the machine, which afford appropriate bearings for the several shafts.

B indicates the main driving-shaft, upon which is mounted a driving-pulley b and a pinion b. This pinion meshes with a gear 0, mounted on a shaft 0. This shaft carries the mold-wheel D, which mold-wheel is located between the side frames of the machine. The mold-wheel Dconsists of a body portion formed with pockets d transversely its periphery, in which pockets are mounted plungers E. These plungers are provided with heads 6 upon their outer ends, which heads form the bottom wall ofthe pockets d. The shank of the plunger extends laterally through slots in the mold-wheel, the extremities thereof carrying rollers 6. Suitable guide-shoes are provided to cooperate with the side walls of the mold-wheel and guide the plunger in its radial movement. A ringflanged is bolted or otherwise secured to the sides of the mold-wheel near its periphery v for'forming the sidewalls of the pockets (1.

F indicates cams secured to the side frames and embracing the shaft 0, with which cams cooperate the rollers e.

G indicates cams, likewise secured to the side frame of the machine. for cooperating with the rollers e.

.I-I indicates a hopper bolted or otherwise secured between the upper portions of the side frames, said hopper having its side walls bearing on the flange-rings (1, while its front wall is preferably curved to conform to the contour of the periphery of the moldwheel. The back wall carries a scrapingblade 72., which cooperates with the periphery of the mold-wheel and shapes the surface of the clay in the pockets.

I indicates a shaft mounted in the side frames and traversing the hopper. This shaft carries a pinion c, which is in mesh.

with the gear 0. Shaft I also carries agitating-blades ii in the form of angled flights, al-

ternate rows being bent or twisted in opposite directions so as to keep the clay in the hopper thoroughly agitated.

J indicates shafts mounted in the side frames, which shafts carry sprocket-wheels j, over which sprocket-wheels passes an endless chain K. This chain K consists of a number of Presser-shoes 7c, faced with plates is, of such size as to snugly fit in the open ends of the pockets d. These presser-shoes are connected by links 70.

L indicates a frame mounted between the side frames and intermediate the sprocketwheels. This frame is faced with antifriction-rollers Z, transversely arranged, which M indicates a shaft on which is mounted a pinion m, driven by the gear 0. Shaft M carries a pulley 11., over which passes a conveyerbelt N, said conveyer belt extending forwardly and being supported by a pulley n. The upper sideof this belt bearsagainstthe cant and a roller 19 for cooperating with and lubricating the face-plates on the pressershoes.

The operation of the press is as follows:

- Clay to be shaped or formed is preferably raw-that is, in the condition in which it is taken from the bank. Being properly reduced or comminuted, it is introduced into the hopper, preferably completely filling said hopper, a constant supply of clay being furnished the hopper during the operation of the machine. The cams F and G are so constructed that when the plungers enter the forward portion of the hopper they are retracted or caused to recede and occupy a position in the bottom of the pocket (1. The agitatingblades prevent the clay from choking and cause the pockets to become filled with clay, as shown in Fig. 3. The scraping-blade 7L prevents an excess quantity of clay being carried out by the pockets, and when a pocket is exposed one of the presser-shoes of the endless chain is in position to introduce its faceplate into the open end of the pocket. In this connection it might we well to say that these face-plates are so spaced apart as to register with the pockets, and as at least two face-plates are in operative position in the pockets at all times it is unnecessary to positively drive the endless chain, as the cooperation of the mold-wheel therewith is suiiicient to eifect the proper movement of the chain.

When the face-plate is properly introduced belt. gers is continued until the heads of the pluninto the open end of the pocket, the pressershoe enters the widest space between the rollers Z and the mold-wheel. As the pressureshoe travels downward these rollers gradually force the same inwardly, and simultaneously the cam F gradually forces the plungers E outwardly, so that the clay between the faceplates and plungers is compressed. The outward movement of the plungers and the consequent pressure upon the clay in the pockets may be adjusted by circumferentiallyad justing the cams F. lVhen the clay is subjected to its final pressure, it is carried around by the mold-wheel to a point over the belt N, when the cams F force the plungers E outwardly and discharge the bricks onto the The outward movement of the plungers are substantially flush with the periphery of the mold-wheel, when they are lubricated by the roller 0. The plungers are held in this outward position until after they enter the hopper, when the cycle of operations above described is repeated.

I am aware that minor changes in the arrangement, construction, and combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a brick-press, the combination with a hopper, of a mold-wheel provided with pockets in its periphery, plungers arranged in the bottoms of said pockets, and a cam for holding said plungers in their outermost position when they enter the hopper and for permitting said plungers to occupy their innermost position as they leave the hopper; substantially as described.

2. In a brick-press, the combination with a hopper, of a mold-wheel provided with pockets across its periphery, flange-rings forming the side walls of said pockets, plungers arranged in the bottoms of the pockets, said plungers having laterally-extending arms carrying rollers, and cams on each side of the mold-wheel for cooperating with said rollers; substantially as described.

3. In a brick-press, the combination with a mold-wheel formed with pockets in its periphery, of a traveling carrier provided with presser-shoes, at least two of which cooperate with the pockets of the mold-wheel at all times by being received therein; substantially as described.

4. In a brick-press, the combination with a mold-wheel formed with pockets in its periphery, of an endless chain carrying pressershoes, and removable face plates on said presser-shoes, at least two of which cooperate with the pockets of the mold-Wheel at all times by being received therein; substantially as described.

5. In a brick-press, the combination with the mold-wheel formed with pockets in its periphery, of an endless chain, presser-shoes carried by said endless chain, face-plates on said presser-shoes for entering the pockets of the mold-wheel, and an eccentric line of antifric tion-rollers cooperating with said pressershoes; substantially as described.

6. In a brick-press, the combination with a mold-wheel formed with pockets in its periphery, of plungers arranged in the bottoms of said pockets, an endless chain carrying presser-shoes which cooperate with the outer portions of the pockets, devices for cooperating with said presser-shoes and moving the same inwardly when in engagement with the mold-wheel, and cams for forcing the plungers outwardly when opposite the pressershoes; substantially as described.

7. In a brick-press, the combination with the hopper, of a mold-wheel formed with pockets in its periphery, plungers in the bottoms of said pockets, a scraping-blade arshoes, face-plates on said presser-shoes which ranged on the back wall of the hopper, an are designed to be received by the pockets in endless chain carrying presser-shoes, facethe mold-wheel, and a lubricating device for I 5 plates on said presser-shoes for entering the said face-plates; substantially as described.

5 pockets, a series of eccentrically-arranged In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my antifriction-rollers Z, and cams F for forcing signature, in the presence of two Witnesses, the plungers outwardly to compress the mathis 16th day of May, 1901. terial therebetween and the face-plates; substantially as described. JOSEPH NIETERS' 1o 8. In a brick-press, the combination with a l Witnesses:

mold-wheel formed with pockets in its pe- WM. H. SCOTT, riphery, of an endless chain'carrying presser- ANNA S. GRAY. 

